Western Civilization through the Eyes of a Greek

Goal:  To explore historical sources in greater depth, and to produce an original analysis of their meaning and relevance.  In this case, to examine how the cultures of early Western civilization affected and interpreted one another, each while maintaining its own peculiar characteristics.Sources:  All the primary sources are provided in .pdf files.  Nothing beyond those texts is required.  Secondary sources are not necessary, but are certainly not forbidden!  However, websites should generally not be used as sources.

Length:  3-4 pages.  Less than that is probably not a thorough enough job; too much more than that makes it unfair to compare it to everyone else’s papers.

Format:  The paper should be double-spaced, page-numbered, with 1” margins all around, in Times New Roman 12 pt font.  Beware the fact that many word processors use default formatting that is different from this!  When quoting from the primary sources, simply include a brief citation in parentheses after each quotation (see instructions below).  If you choose to use secondary sources, include a brief citation in parentheses whenever necessary (include author, title, and publication information).  Footnotes and bibliographies are unnecessary for this paper.

Style:  You can have great content, but without great form you won’t succeed at getting it across.  All written work will be assessed on style (including spelling, grammar, and syntax) as well as substance.  Proofread (on paper)!  Don’t trust spellcheckers and grammar-checkers.

Honesty:  Plagiarism is a serious charge because (a) it violates the trust between teacher and student, (b) it offends the rights of the person whose words or ideas are stolen, and (c) it undermines the very purpose of your education.  Although you have to use sources when writing a historical essay, it is easy to avoid plagiarism by giving credit where credit is due.  1. When quoting directly from a source, enclose the words in quotation marks and cite the source in the proper format.  2. If you’re paraphrasing a source, do not use quotation marks, but still cite it.  3. If you use secondary sources to support your case or to borrow some thoughts, cite them whenever you’re relying on them (that is, whenever your words or ideas are not your own creations).  N.B. Of course, the copying of another person’s essay, in whole or in part, and passing it off as your own work is nothing but cheating.

Help:  We want to help you learn to write well (one of the most important skills you can develop in life), so feel free to consult with your TA (but don’t wait until the day before the due date!).  Take advantage too of SLU Writing Services (314-977-3484; http://www.slu.edu/retention-and-academic-success/university-writing-services).

Submission:  A hard copy of the paper is to be turned in by 4:00 pm on the due date.  Place it in your TA’s mailbox in the History Dept. Office (Adorjan 137).  Unless because of a documented medical, family, or personal emergency, a paper will not be accepted after the due date and time.

Directions:  Choose one of the two options below.  Read the primary sources carefully, marking the points that seem significant to you.  If there are things that confuse you, try to do some research, or consult your TA.  Then write an essay that addresses the questions posed here.  In an essay of this length, you cannot cover the texts completely; but you should at least provide solid answers that are clearly argued and supported by evidence that you cite from the sources.